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Robot mower safety with kids and pets
Updated
A robot mower is a small machine with sharp spinning blades. Sensors, bumpers and lift switches lower the risk. They do not replace the simplest rule: nobody plays on the lawn while it mows.
Safety, every time it runs
- Kids and pets off the lawn while it mows. Obstacle sensors and cameras reduce the risk. They do not remove it. Schedule mowing for times when nobody is playing outside.
- Never lift or tip it while it is on. Stop it and turn it off first. Wear gloves when you change blades.
- Check for recalls. Search your model on CPSC.gov and register the mower with the maker so they can reach you.
- Read the manual's safety section. It is the only place that covers your exact model.
The safety standard
CPSC's page on mower standards lists ANSI/OPEI 60335-2-107-2020, "Particular Requirements for Robotic Battery Powered Electrical Lawnmowers". It is a voluntary standard, which means makers choose to follow it. If a listing or manual says a mower meets it, that is a good sign. The listings we read for our picks did not name it, so check the manual or ask the maker.
How the picks watch for obstacles
- Segway Navimow i105N. A 140 degree camera that the maker says spots over 150 kinds of objects. Navimow also describes an Animal Friendly Mode that keeps a buffer from pets and wildlife it detects.
- Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H. Physical bumpers, 360 degree LiDAR and cameras, per the listing.
- ECOVACS GOAT A2000 LiDAR PRO. AIVI 3D obstacle avoidance, per the listing.
- WORX Landroid Vision Cloud WR320. Camera-based AI obstacle avoidance, per the listing.
- Husqvarna Automower 410iQ. Onboard radar, per the listing, plus a bumper.
- Gardena SILENO City. Collision sensors, per the listing.
These are maker claims. No sensor spots everything, and small things low to the ground, like a toy or a hand, are the hardest.
Rules for homes with children and pets
- Schedule around people. Set mowing for school hours or when you are home to watch, and pause it from the app when kids head outside.
- Teach kids it is not a toy. No riding, chasing or picking it up.
- Keep pets in while it runs, at least until you have watched how your dog reacts to it.
- Skip night mowing. Small animals come out at night, and you cannot see what is on the lawn.
- Clear the lawn first. Toys, balls, hoses and dog bowls can be hit, flung or chewed up.
- Turn it off before you touch it. Use the stop button, then the power switch, before cleaning or changing blades. Wear gloves.
Batteries and recalls
Robot mowers run on lithium-ion batteries. In 2022, CPSC posted a recall of about 1,400 Husqvarna Automower 435X and 535 AWD mowers because the battery could overheat and pose a fire risk. Those are not models on this site, but it is a reminder to register your mower with the maker and to search your model on CPSC.gov now and then. Use only the maker's charger and station.
Check your own yard with the capacity calculator, or compare all six picks on the best robot mowers page.